A new Honor Committee initiative may give students the opportunity to buy on credit from merchants on the Corner. According to Honor Chair Carey Mignerey, the issue being proposed essentially puts students on their honor to repay any loan they contract with a merchant.
Student Council Executive Vice President Rabeen Pasha introduced a resolution expressing Council's gratitude to the Seven Society for their donation of $10,777.77 to Council's Homecoming Committee last night. Council suspended the rules in order to vote on the resolution immediately and passed it. The resolution specifically recognized the collaborative efforts of the University Programs Council, Inter-Fraternity Council, Inter-Sorority Council, Alumni Hall, the Athletic Department and the Council Athletic Affairs Committee for their efforts over the past two years to create a stronger Homecoming tradition. Homecoming Committee Co-Chair Brigitte Hoyer said the donation not only prevented the Homecoming planners from making programming cuts to the weekend's festivities due to a previous lack of funds but it also enabled them to pursue a "bigger name" band. Hoyer added that the Homecoming planners hope to finalize the band this week with an announcement made by the time the University returns from Fall Break.
In a show of commitment toward the improvement of University research, the Board of Visitors resolved Saturday to invest $60 million in a five-year scientific research enterprise which will include the recruitment of 10 new faculty teams. Although the University ranks first among public institutions and 21st among all American universities, it is ranked 49th in total research and development expenditure. The entire cost of the proposed research enterprise is estimated at $125.8 million. Vice President for Research Ariel Gomez said he sees the initiative as a way to increase the quality of the University's products. "We produce discovery and education and public service," Gomez said.
Over 60 students congregated in the lobby of Alderman Library yesterday evening to dance a waltz for roughly 30 seconds before dispersing.
Victor and Sono Elmaleh of New York will donate $1.2 million to the University as part of a wider effort to expand arts facilities around Grounds. The Elmalehs' donation will complete funding for a new entry tower at the eastern end of Campbell Hall, which houses the School of Architecture.
An Albemarle County grand jury returned indictments yesterday against three local teenagers for the murder of a Crozet woman and her son. Robert Paul Davis and William Rocklin Fugett, both 19, and Fugett's sister Jessica, 16, are accused in connection with the death of Nola Annette Charles, 41, and her three-year old son. The murder took place on Cling Lane in Crozet on February 19th. Charles was tied to a bed and stabbed, and her son died of smoke inhalation after the house was set on fire, according to prosecutors. All three suspects resided on Cling Lane at the time of the murder and knew both Charles and her son, County officials said.
In order to generate revenue for new construction projects and renovations to current housing, the Board of Visitors passed a rate increase at their Oct.
Although final decisions concerning changes to tuition rates will not be made until April, the Board of Visitors met over the weekend to begin preliminary discussions on future costs of attending the University. According to University officials, the amount of tuition increase relies heavily upon the funding the University receives from the state. "We are at the mercy of the legislature," said Board member William Goodwin, chair of the finance committee.
The 15 suspects arrested on charges of alleged narcotics and drug distribution last week in "Operation Spring Break Down" each could face up to 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine for each felony offense if convicted. Although the penalties for drug distribution are intentionally harsh, Charlottesville Police Officer Jeff Sandridge said many suspects may be able to negotiate for lighter sentences. "If it's a first offense, they could plead it down and just get a few days of jail time and probation for two years," he said. University Law Prof.
In the name of student autonomy, the University's four Greek governing councils have begun a joint initiative to bring the fraternity and sorority recruitment calendar under student control. The move stems from a Sept.
The Student Activities Center's Guest Consulting Program kicked off its second year of operation yesterday in a continuing effort to provide support for student organizations. The program's primary function, student involvement intern Lesley-Anne Pittard said, consists of providing a guest counselor almost every weekday in the Student Activities Center.
As always, first-year sorority hopefuls will move back into their dorm rooms well before the spring semester begins, ready to brave freezing weather and occasional snow in high heels and dresses.
University Police and local law enforcement officials announced Friday the indictment of 33 people -- including former and current University students and employees -- for alleged involvement with the illegal sale of narcotics.
The University Democrats are hosting the first lecture in a "Principles in Politics" series tonight in hopes of providing non-partisan accounts of public service to the University community. "Basically, the speaker series was started because we feel that people today have forgotten that there are people in politics who are passionate about issues," University Democrats Research Coordinator Allyson Gold said. The club has invited both Republicans and Democrats to participate in the lecture series, describing the lectures as autobiographical accounts highlighting how the speakers became involved in politics. "We have no partisan intentions," University Democrats President Ian Amelkin said.
The Board of Visitors decided to supplement the Commonwealth's compensation measures for the University's faculty and staff in a meeting held Saturday. As a result of the continuing statewide budget crisis, University employees have not received either pay raises or bonuses for the past three years.
Politics Prof. Michael J. Smith and Angela Davis, associate dean of students for student life, met for the first time with the Board of Visitors' Special Committee on Diversity in the board room of the Rotunda yesterday. Davis and Smith are co-chairs of the President's Commission on Diversity and Equity, which is charged with assessing the quality of the student experience within the University with special attention to the experiences of women and minorities. Davis and Smith reiterated the themes, such as retention and recruitment of minority faculty, which were discussed at the President's Commission's first meeting last month. The Commission will hold meetings throughout the fall, including a mid-October retreat, and will present a report to the Board at the beginning of spring semester. The President's Commission will look to peer institutions to identify "best practices" models that may then be implemented at the University, Smith said. "We will look seriously at practices at our peer institutions -- and have already, with the help of staff, gathered considerable data," he said.
Under a new policy known as the Carolina Covenant, low-income students entering the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill next year will be able to attend college without incurring debt. Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser announced the new policy Wednesday evening during his annual State of the University address. The Carolina Covenant allows students whose families' incomes fall below 150 percent of the poverty level -- roughly $28,000 for a family of four -- to attend UNC virtually for free.
The University and Office of Admissions will host the annual Fall Fling tomorrow. The event showcases an open house for African-American prospective students and their families.
Dominion Virginia Power's goal to restore all power to its entire service territory by today following Hurricane Isabel will be realized on schedule, Dominion Virginia Power spokesperson David Botkins said yesterday. "We hope to have virtually all power restored by the end of the day" today, Botkins said. While most areas currently have power, Botkins said there are a few areas in the state still suffering from power outages. "There are a few small pockets of outages primarily in Gloucester, Northern Neck and Peninsula areas of the state, which were some of the hardest-hit areas," Botkins said. Botkins said customers will not pay for power they did not use. "Every customer has to pay their electric bill, but no customer has to pay for any electricity not used as a result of being without power," Botkins said. In response to the mass power outages, Botkins said Dominion Virginia Power sent out employees to all areas of Virginia. "We were all over the state in mass with personnel that totaled 12,000 at its peak," Botkins said. Botkins said Dominion Virginia Power is satisfied with the actions it took in the wake of the hurricane. "We're very pleased with our response across the state," Botkins said.
For students wishing to live off-Grounds next year, it may be true that the early bird catches the worm when it comes to signing apartment leases in Charlottesville. Because of the high demand for off-Grounds apartments and rapidly approaching deadlines, many area leasing agencies are urging prospective tenants to begin the lease signing process as soon as possible. Several companies cited deadlines for renewals and new leases in the next two weeks. "It's important for prospective residents to stop by rental companies to see what's available," Woodward Properties Marketing Director Jaclyn Lucca said.
